Ten Hag Claims Man United Chiefs Broke Transfer Promises, Sold McTominay Against His Wishes

Erik ten Hag, formerly of Manchester United, has accused club leadership of reneging on promises made during his tenure, most notably regarding the transfer of midfielder Scott McTominay. Ten Hag, who was dismissed in October 2024, stated that assurances of loyalty and backing were not honored, particularly in transfer dealings.

According to Ten Hag, a crucial discussion in Ibiza led to an agreement that McTominay would not be sold. "I make an argument, a reason: we don't have scoring abilities. Scott brings scoring abilities and great mentality. He has United in all his veins. So when they bring up the subject, 'No'," Ten Hag told The Athletic. Despite this, McTominay was transferred to Napoli for £25 million in the summer of 2024. Ten Hag expressed his disappointment and embarrassment over this decision, stating, "In the end they sold him. I got, of course, very embarrassed and disappointed."

McTominay has since become a prominent player for Napoli, contributing significantly to their Serie A title win in his first season and earning a Ballon d'Or nomination. His sale was reportedly intended to help fund the acquisition of Manuel Ugarte, a £42 million midfielder who has struggled since his arrival and is currently sidelined with an ACL tear.

Ten Hag's comments follow similar sentiments expressed by defender Lisandro Martinez, who criticized Manchester United's summer transfer strategy and a perceived lack of ambition from the club's hierarchy. Martinez specifically pointed to the club's director of football, Jason Wilcox, for failing to assemble a competitive squad. "I expect more (investment) 100 percent. I expect more from our technical director," Martinez stated, questioning the club's direction after a successful previous season under interim manager Michael Carrick.